Podcast: On layaway with Sky Hopinka

The Milwaukee-based artist’s video piece “Jáaji Approx.” is on display in the 2016 Wisconsin Triennial.
 

Sky Hopinka‘s 2015 video work Jáaji Approx. uses snatches of audio and fragmentary road-trip videos to explore both the presence and absence of Hopinka’s father. It’s currently on display at the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art’s Wisconsin Triennial, which runs through January 8.

Hopinka, who is currently based in Milwaukee and is a member of the Ho-Chunk Nation, joined me on this week’s podcast to discuss the piece, the narrow scope of media portrayals of Native Americans and their concerns, and his work on teaching and preserving indigenous languages. Give our conversation a listen below. You can also view an excerpt from Jáaji Approx. on Hopinka’s website, but you’ll need to go to the Triennial (and really you should anyway) to see the full 15-minute piece.

Don’t forget to subscribe to our podcast on iTunes and catch WORT-FM’s weeknight local news show, which partners with us to produce these. Thanks to Dylan Brogan for producing this interview.